Schelle grew up in Bergen County, in northern New Jersey, where he studied piano and conducting with Walter Schroeder. After receiving a pre-collegiate certificate from the Trinity College of Music in London, he changed direction for a B.A. in theatre and philosophy from Villanova University (PA). During his four years at Villanova, Schelle was the keyboard player in various regional rock bands, and also Composer in Residence for the Villanova Graduate Theatre, scoring productions of Waiting for Godot, Rhinoceros, and other modernist classics directed by Irene Baird and David Rabe.
Returning to music after Villanova, with eyes now opened wide by discovering experimental theatre, the avant garde, and the music of Igor Stravinsky, Béla Bartók, Charles Ives, Frank Zappa, Edgard Varese, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Krzysztof Penderecki and John Cage, Schelle went on to receive graduate composition degrees from the Hartt School of Music (Connecticut) and the University of Minnesota. Schelle studied composition with Arnold Franchetti, Aaron Copland, Paul Fetler, and Dominick Argento.
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Far and Wide
Schelle's music has been performed by over 350 orchestras, symphonic bands and professional chamber ensembles across the US and abroad including the Detroit Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Albany (NY) Symphony, Springfield (Mass) Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Honolulu Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Greenwich (CT) Chorus and Orchestra, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Symphony . . . . also, XTET (Los Angeles), ISIS (Austin, TX), Voices of Change ensemble, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, the Urban Quartet (Phoenix) [4], the Eastman New Music Ensemble and many others.
Recent international performances of his music have included Kammerorkester Basel (Switzerland), Czestochowa Philharmonic (Poland), Orquestra Sinfonica Nacional (Costa Rica), the Vale of Glamorgan Music Festival (Cardiff, Wales), the 2009 Firenza New Music Festival (Italy), the Koenig Ensemble of London and, in September 2012, the Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Performing Arts Center Wind Symphony.Schelle is the author of the 1999 film music book, The Score (Silman-James Press, Los Angeles).[5]Schelle is the featured composer in the 2005 documentary, "Extreme Orchestra" IMDB [6]Three (3) extended "Composer in Residence" appointments in Japan: Nagoya Imperial University and Aichi Prefectural University of Music and Fine Arts https://web.archive.org/web/20150304180351/http://www.aichi-fam-u.ac.jp/ja/international-exchange/artist-in-residence.html (2009, 2011, 2013)Schelle's 2002 Wright Flight piano concerto (recorded on Albany Records with the Dayton Philharmonic, Andrew Russo, piano) was 'on tour' throughout China in January 2010 for multiple performances with the South Shore Orchestra (Chicago) in Shanghai, Beijing, Ningbo and Hangzhou.Much of Schelle's orchestra and wind ensemble music is published by Lauren Keiser Music Publishing / Keiser Classical, in St. Louis and New York City..
Grants and Awards
Schelle has received composition grants and awards from the Rockefeller Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Arts Council, the New England Foundation for the Arts, the Welsh Arts Council (Cardiff), Arts Midwest, the Great Lakes Arts Alliance, the American Pianists Association, the International Percussive Arts Society, the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition (Utah, 1989), the National Band Association (2012 Revelli Composition Prize) and many other organizations.
In 2005/2006, funded by a grant from the American Symphony Orchestra League, Inc. (NYC), Schelle was Composer in Residence for the Albuquerque Youth Symphony organization [7], writing a new work for each of the five AYS orchestras. All five works were premiered in May 2006, at Popejoy Hall on the campus of the University of New Mexico.
2007/2008: by way of a generous Individual Artist Grant from the Arts Council of Indianapolis, Schelle enjoyed an extended visit to Japan where he worked with legendary avant garde composer Hifumi Shimoyama (b. 1930) in Tokyo. Schelle also received an ACI grant in 1999/2000. . .
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In addition to working with many American orchestras, Schelle is a frequent Guest Composer for American universities and schools of music, where he gives master classes on his music and works with young composers and student ensembles. Among many others, he has been featured for guest composer residencies at Arizona State University, Washington State University, California Lutheran University, Sam Houston State University. Carnegie Mellon University, Kent State University, Southern Illinois University, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Eastern Michigan University, State University of New York, University of Notre Dame, Capital University (OH), University of Massachusetts, Trinity University (TX), University of Wisconsin-Madison and many others. He has also held extended residencies at the Spoleto USA Festival (Charleston, SC), the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts (Vienna, VA), the MacDowell Colony, and for various prestigious new music festivals across the US and abroad. From 2009 - 2013 he served three (3) times as the featured Composer in Residence at both Nagoya Imperial University (Japan) and Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music (Japan). April 2016: guest composer at the Chopin University of Music (Warsaw, Poland) and the Krakow Academy of Music .
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FIFTH HORSEMAN OF THE APOCALYPSE (2016), for large orchestraO MAGMA MYSTERIUM (2015) for large symphonic wind ensembleRESILIENCE (2015), for Viola, Cello and Orchestra for the 70th anniversary of the end of WW2FEAR STRIKES OUT (2015), for trombone and wind ensembleTHE END OF AL CAPONE (2014), mono-opera for voice and large chamber ensembleTHE WOLVES OF PARNASSUS (2014), six mvmts. for chamber ensembleMYSTIC MOURNING (2014), solo violin and chamber ensembleSUN-WUKONG (2013) for cello and orchestra, commissioned by the South Shore Orchestra (Chicago) for their 14 day / 8 concert tour of China in January 2014EXTRACTION ON NO. 9 (2013) for large symphonic wind ensemble), a 2012/13 consortium commission from eight university symphonic bands.THROUGH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF HELL (2013) for new music ensemble vs. chamber orchestra (Hartford Arts Council commission, premiere October 2013)THEIR HOUSE WAS AROUND HERE, SOMEWHERE .... (2012), for solo piano and chamber ensemble, commissioned by the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra for a March 2013 Symphony Space / New York City concert honoring the victims and survivors of the great Japan earthquake and tsunami of March 2011.THE EXORCISM OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY, a 2012 consortium commission from 15 orchestras (including Nashville, Alabama, Detroit, Dayton and Tulsa).THE END OF THE WORLD, a 2011 consortium commission from 35 university symphonic bands for a new work inspired by Nostradamus' doomsday prophecy for "The End of the World" on 12/21/2012, the Mayan Calendar, and the March 2011 earthquake/tsunami disaster in Japan - consortium group includes Eastman, Michigan, Indiana, Texas-Austin, Nebraska, New Mexico, Florida, Minnesota, Kansas State, Arizona State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Missouri, Purdue, Illinois, UNC Greensboro, Louisiana, Virginia Commonwealth, Trinity (TX), Hartt, Ithaca and others. The End of the World was awarded First Prize in the 2012 National Band Association "William D. Revelli Composition Competition"STRAIGHT, NO LITHIUM (2010) a 9-movement work for solo piano was a commission from Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music in Nagoya, Japan, and received its premiere there in December 2010. The US premiere was in Summer 2012 at Symphony Space in New York City, Jim Loughery, piano : New York Times review: [8]RAIN, a recently commissioned work based on the writing of Vladimir Nabokov was premiered in December 2009 with the Saint Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic in Glinka Hall, Russia, with Julia Kogan, soprano [9]. It was recorded for international commercial release in 2011 on the album Troika, distributed by Harmonia Mundi..
Orchestral
Fifth Horseman of the Apocolypse (2016)Resilience (2015), viola, cello and orchestraSun-Wukong (2013)Through the Bright Lights of Hell (2013)The Exorcism of the Sugar Plum Fairy (2012)Guardian (2011), solo violin and orchestraRain (2009), soprano and orchestraThe Beast of Brazil (2005)Ear Infection (2005)Vox Humana (2005)Extraction on No. 8 (2005)Chrysalis (2004)Crashout (2004)Wright Flight (2002), piano concertoSamurai (1999)Spider Baby (1996)Mayday! (1995)Spirits (1993), six biographies for orchestraJonestown Echo (Rev. Jim Jones), from SpiritsDetour to Nowhere (John Dillinger), from SpiritsLimberlost (Gene Stratton Porter), from SpiritsOne for the Gipper (Knute Rockne), from Spiritsben bonhommes rouge (Ezra Pound), from SpiritsThe Last Ride (James Dean), from SpiritsBlast (1992Rapscallion (1990)After the Meridian: Times of Future Passed (1990), for soloists, chorus and orchestraThe Big Night (1989)Kidspeace (1987)Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra (1986)Swashbuckler! (1984)Play Us Chastity on Your Violin (1984), for solo violin and chamber orchestraPygmies II (1983)Pygmies (1982)Masque (1979)El Salon Medico (1977)Lancaster Variations (1976)Wind Ensemble / Symphonic Band
O Magma Mysterium (2016)Fear Strikes Out (2015)Extraction on No. 9 (2013)The End of the World (2011)Prayer (2004)When Hell Freezes Over (1996)Guttersnipe (1994)Contraband (1991)Seven Steps from Hell (1985)Cliffhanger March (1984)King Ubu (1981)Opera / Choral / Vocal
The End of Al Capone (2014), mono-opera for voice and large chamber ensembleRa-ahmen (2010), SATB and four doublebassesAesop Rules (1997), 55:00 musical for kids (grade 1 - 5), tenor sax, keyboards, percussionPipuff (1992), SATBStruwwelpeter (1991), for tenor and piano (or chamber ensemble)The Great Soap Opera (1988), 90:00 chamber operaSix Seasonal Anthems (1987), SATB, organDei Angelus (1987), SATB, organCaroleluia (1987), SATBSwanwhite (1981), for soprano and pianoThe Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin (1977), TTBBChamber
The Wolves of Parnassus (2014), for chamber ensembleMystic Mourning (2014), for solo violin and chamber ensembleBurning Crusaders (2014), for five trumpets and percussionCrusher (2013), for solo guitar w/piano accompanimentMeine Grossmutter Kostbaren Klarinette (2013), for clarinet and pianoMy Precious Iron Lung (2013), for horn and pianoMy Precious Iron Cello (2013), for euphonium and pianoAka Sakana (2012), for solo clarinetTheir House Was Around Here, Somewhere ... (2012), for piano and chamber ensembleSprechstisambastimme (2011), for string quartetRed Knuckles (2011), for clarinet and tenor saxSay Goodnight, Gracie (2010), for large chamber ensembleNagoya Spiral (2009), for any four players and pre-recorded mediumCalhoun (2009), for large chamber ensembleThe Fall of Susan McClary (2009), for chamber ensembleNo Child Left Behind (2007), large chamber ensembleThe ______ the Wind Swept Away (2007), for solo viola (or any instrument) and chamber ensembleHeartland (2007), for clarinet, tenor sax, violin, cello, bass, piano and percussionStruwwelpeter (2006), for tenor and piano (1991), for tenor and chamber ensemble (2006)It's Curtains for You, Bub (2005), for large chamber ensemblePrayer (2004), for solo cello with harp and pianoGimme Shelter (2001), for violin and pianoGodzilla (1997) for clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax, piano, bass, percussionBerlin Archetype (1990) for clarinet, cello, pinao (and off-stage trumpet and tenor)Inizio (1989), for violin and celloMusica Magnetizzare (1988), for five chamber playersHowl (1986), for solo clarinet and four chamber playersPlay Us Chastity on Your Violin (1984), for solo violin and large chamber ensembleMusic for the Alabama Kid (1984), for chamber ensembleMusic for Two Pianos (1982)Cry Wolf (1981), for cello and 5 percussionistsMusic for the Last Days of Strindberg (1979), for chamber ensembleChamber Concerto (1978), for solo violin, flute, cello and pianoSolo
Aka Sakana (2012), for solo clarinetStraight, No Lithium (2010), nine bipolar preludes for pianoJanus: Third Sonata (1998), for pianoSubwoofer (1996), for fluteHammerstein (1995), for pianoRacing With Rabbits (1988), solo percussionistRattlesnake (1983), solo percussionistBlue Plate Special (1983), for tuba alone (with aux. percussion)Redbud (1982), for doublebassSecond Sonata (1979), for piano.
Schelle is Composer in Residence and Founder/Director of the notorious JCFA Composers Orchestra [10] (new music ensemble) at the School of Music, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, USA. Schelle's daughter, Katie, is an interior designer and architect with Mitchell Studios in New Haven, CT. His son, Patrick, M.S.W. from NYU, is a social worker with Family Services of Westchester in New York City, White Plains and The Bronx.
